Klaassen, Teresa

'77 BS in Business Administration

Chief Cultural Officer, Sunrise Senior Living

Klaassen co-founded Sunrise with her husband, which has grown to more than 440 senior living communities throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. As chief cultural officer, she develops programs that help Sunrise remain focused on its commitment to core values and principles of service.

Klaassen believes Mason helped her in her career, saying, “My degree gave me a great framework. The case study classes were particularly helpful. I will always appreciate how Mason supported me personally and offered the flexibility that I needed to meet special demands in my home life at the time.”

Klaassen is a member of the Committee of 200, a leadership group of select U.S. corporate women; the chair of the Sunrise Senior Living Education Foundation Board, which operates Merritt Academy, The Appletree School and First Steps Childcare Center; and a member of The International Women’s Forum.